Compare and Contrast Essay on Juvenile and Adult Criminal Justice Systems

Introduction

In any nation, there is a criminal system that seeks to punish lawbreakers using the available agencies and processes that govern their respective justice system. The two common justice systems are the juvenile and adult criminal systems. Before analyzing and comparing these two systems, it is important to understand their purposes in enforcing the law. The juvenile system handles cases involving offenders who are the age of 18 or 16 depending on the jurisdiction while adult criminals' system is mainly for adults above the age of 18 where criminals are apprehended, tried, sentenced and jailed in a criminal court (Hirby, 2019). Juvenile systems seek to rehabilitate and deter the young youths from engaging in crime in the future while the adult system focuses on punishing the offender so they would think twice before repeating the crime. Juveniles however regardless of their age can be tried as adults especially if the crime they have committed is heinous. Examples of common juvenile crimes include curfew violations, underage drinking, theft, traffic offenses truancy and vandalism ("Similarities and Differences between Juvenile and Adult Court - DuPage County Family Law Attorney," 2015).

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Similarities Between the Juvenile and Adult Criminal Justice System

Despite serving adults and youth below the age of 18 both the juvenile and adult criminal justice system has certain similar aspects that they share. Both systems are similar because they maintain the same rights accorded to the offenders within the legal system. In both systems, the accused have a right to an attorney who will defend through the court processes. Aside from the offender are entitled to examine the witnesses accusing them of the alleged crimes they have committed ("Similarities and Differences between Juvenile and Adult Court - DuPage County Family Law Attorney," 2015).

Another similarity between juvenile and the adult criminal system is the fact the offenders have a right to be informed of the charges against them before they are put trial or hearing. In both the juvenile the adult cases there must be enough factual evidence to prove that indeed they committed the crime before they are considered to be delinquent or guilty.

Differences Between Juvenile and Adult Criminal Justice System

In the event that a juvenile is found to be guilty of a crime, the juvenile court focuses mainly on rehabilitating the minor by placing them in several programs while serving their sentences (Hirby, 2019). These programs are mainly run by trained parole and probation officers who monitor the minor as they undergo these programs. The adult criminal system, however, differs with this in that when the offender is found guilty, the court will suggest the punishment for the offender based on the nature of the crime. Being an adult, they are in apposition to tell what is wrong and right and thus they committed the crime knowingly. Punishment will teach the adult offender a lesson such when they are freed they are in a position to know of the consequences of engaging in crime.

Court processes in the juvenile and adult courts differ in some ways. Whenever a juvenile is found to have committed a crime most likely a delinquent act their trial is only between the judge and them and the public is not involved (Hirby, 2019). Juvenile cases privacy explain why limitations are placed on juvenile offenders' records because the court believes they can change their actions after going through rehabilitation programs and also to protect the children from stigmatization. Being convicted at a young age can also have dire consequences on the child's employment chances, education, housing and other important aspects of a person's life ("Stats - Juvenile Vs. Adult Justice | Juvenile Justice | FRONTLINE | PBS," 2019). In adult cases however the court proceedings are different because they are open to the public where people can learn of the punishments and the nature of the crime of the offenders. A juvenile offender is not considered guilty but delinquent, and their cases are often referred to as trials rather than hearings.

Juvenile and adult criminals' system also differ on the objectives they intend to achieve at the end of the court proceedings.in the juvenile system the main aim of these courts is to rehabilitate the young offenders because they believe that at this tender age they can still be positively influenced. Juvenile courts facilitate this through the many programs on education and other important activities for the young lawbreakers. The objective of the adult justice system is different because it aims as at preventing future crimes by punishing offenders depending on the crimes committed ("Stats - Juvenile Vs. Adult Justice | Juvenile Justice | FRONTLINE | PBS," 2019).

In the juveniles court also the rules governing the hearing of the minor's cases are more relaxed when compared to the adult's systems. Unlike in the adult cases where there is strict adherence to evidence and the witnesses the juvenile court's procedures on these areas are not that strict. This lack of strictness is because the case of juveniles is less serious and the judge is the one to make the final verdict based on the nature of the offence.

References

Hirby, J. (2019). Difference Between Juvenile And Adult Justice Systems. Retrieved from https://thelawdictionary.org/article/difference-between-juvenile-and-adult-justice-systems/

Similarities and Differences between Juvenile and Adult Court - DuPage County Family Law Attorney. (2015). Retrieved from https://www.dupagefamilylawattorneys.com/dupagedivorceblog/juvenile-and-adult-court

Stats - Juvenile Vs. Adult Justice | Juvenile Justice | FRONTLINE | PBS. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/juvenile/stats/juvvsadult.html